Detection and characterization of extreme ice features in single high resolution satellite imagery

Abstract

Information on the locations and characteristics of extreme sea ice features (such as, hummocks, ridges, stamukhas and icebergs) is important for various marine applications. Imagery acquired by high resolution optical satellites was previously used for qualitative image interpretation to identify various sea ice features and it is especially valuable when detailed ground validation is not available. Current optical satellites, such as GeoEye-1, are able to acquire images with very high resolution of 0.5m. This work addresses the problem of quantitative retrieval of ice feature parameters from very high resolution optical imagery. The developed algorithms facilitate extraction of ice feature height from shadow and derivation of statistical information on ice deformation parameters. Automated processing of GeoEye-1 image demonstrated capabilities of retrieval of ridge frequency and segmentation of rubble fields.

Object-based detection of Arctic sea ice and melt ponds using high spatial resolution aerial photographs

“…However, we find cast shadows from ridges are ubiquitous in our aerial photographs especially in multi-year ice regions and during the late melting phase, enhanced by the low sun elevation angle and ridges. These shadows can potentially provide valuable sea ice ridge height information indirectly (Hibler and Ackley, 1975;Zakharov et al, 2015).…”

Satellite-Based Identification and Characterization of Extreme Ice Features: Hummocks and Ice Islands

“…[36]. It was used with optical satellite data for ridge height estimation [27,37] and for building height estimation with validation showing the absolute error within 1.24 m-3.76 m [38]. The problem of building height extraction from VHR and high-resolution SAR images was extensively investigated and several solutions have been proposed [39][40][41][42][43].…”

“…The most common satellite-based method of extracting a digital elevation model (DEM) (a 3D representation of a terrain's surface elevations) is the stereo-photogrammetric method. In addition, the method called height from shadow [48] can be useful to validate the DEM height of ice features [27].…”

“…Satellite data cannot directly measure EIF thickness, although it is possible to measure the freeboard (height above water surface) of ice floes [25] and icebergs in open water [26] using radar altimetry. Single, very-high-resolution (VHR) electro-optical satellite images can be used to estimate the height of ice features from shadows [27]. The usage of stereo VHR electro-optical images enable extraction of sea-ice and iceberg topography, which can potentially serve as an indicator of ice feature thickness.…”

Object-Based Arctic Sea Ice Ridge Detection From High-Spatial-Resolution Imagery

“…Two related works include the detection of sea ice deformation features using a single GeoEye-1 image [12], and ridge height measurements using declassified satellite images of Arctic sea ice [13]. These shadow detection methods were either manual or semimanual for a limited number of images.…”